Racing toy



Patented May 4,1948

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RACING TOY John J. Cunningham, Manchester, N. H. Application September 17, 1946, Serial No. 697,551

The invention aims to provide a new and entertaining racing game in which horse simulations or other figures are provided with armatures (preferably magnets) and are movable along a track area of a board by means of individual magnets carried by a manually movable actuator under said board.

In carrying out the above end, a further object is to make novel provision, controlled by tilting of the board, for causing any selected figure to lead.

A still further object isto provide a game in which the figures have individual magnets .00- operable with the actuator-carried magnets to hold said figures in a predetermined spaced relation and to move them along the track surface, said magnets of the figures serving to cause movement of said figures into a huddlev or other different relation if the actuator be given such a quick jerk as to move its magnets out of cooperative relation with those of said figures.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is a small top view of the game.

Fig. 2 is a, small bottom view.

.Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged top view of the magnet-carrying portion 01' the manually movable actuator, showing its magnets in one positional relation, to cause one figure to lead.

Fig. 5 is a top view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the magnets in another positional relation to cause another figure to lead.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Aboard 1 is shown having an arcuate edge 8 and a straight edge 9, said board being formed from any suitable stifi and non-magnetic material. The upper side of this board is provided with an arcuate track surface [0, with inner and outer flanges II and [2 at the longitudinal edges of said track surface, and with other flanges l3 at the ends of said surface.

Suitable cut-out figures M are provided for movement upon the track surface l0, said figures having appropriate non-magnetic bases l5 and armatures iii in said bases respectively, each armature being preferably in the form of a permanent magnet and slidable on the track surface.

An actuating arm [1 is disposed under the board 1 and is provided with a widened outer end [8, said arm being pivoted by means of a bolt or the like l9 to said board 1, at a point concene trio with the flanges II and I2. The outer end ll! of this arm I! is provided with an appropriate 9 Claims. (0]. 46-45) 2 bracket 20 carrying rollers 2| contacting with the upperside of the outer flange I2. Another roller 22 contacts with the upper side of the flange II and is carried by a supplemental arm 23 which is pivoted upon the bolt l 9 and is suitably connected at 24 with the inner end of the actuating arm l1. By this construction, the actuating arm is so connected with the board 1 that it can swing only in a plane parallel with said board and cannot move an excessive distance away from the latter. For swinging this arm I1, a handle block 25 has been shown on its lower side. This handle block is gripped in one hand and the board 1 in the other, andthe arm l1 may then be swung about the pivot l9 so that its widened end l8 moves longitudinally of or lengthwise but beneath the track surface 10. The widened end [8 of the actuating arm [1 has three flat-bottomed, upwardly-open grooves 26, 26a and 261) formed therein. In these three grooves, three permanent magnets 21, 21a and 21b are slidable, respectively, each of said magnets having a suitable base 26 of non-magnetic material. In one longitudinal side wall of the grooves 26, 26a and 26b, notches 29, 29a and 29b are formed, there being one notch in each of said walls. The other longitudinal side walls of the three grooves 26, 26a and 26b are formed with notches 30, 36a and 36b respectively, there being one notch in each of these walls. The various notches are spaced different distances from the front ends of the grooves 26, 26a and 26b and these groove ends may well be spaced equi-distantly from the front edge of the widened end ll! of the actuating arm I1. The rear ends 3|, 3m and 3th of the grooves are spaced difierent distances from the rear edge 'of the arm end l8, giving different lengths to said grooves. It will also be noted that the various notches above described, are different distances from the rear ends of the grooves. I

Three balls 32, 32a and 321) are loosely positioned in the grooves 26, 26a and 26b, behind the magnets 21, 21a, and 211). When the actuator is moved to advance the figures alon the track surface I0, the balls 32, 32a; and 3% push the bases 28 of the magnets 21,2112 and 21b. There- 'fore, the positions which the balls have before starting to push the magnets 21, 21a and 21?), will control the positional relation of these magnets while the actuator 11 is being advanced. If the board 1 be tilted in one direction, the balls 32, 32a and 3% may be made to enter the notches 29, 29a and 2% respectively, as seen in Fig. 4. With this positioning of the balls, the magnets 21, 21a. and 21b will have the relation shown in Fig. 4 while the actuator is being advanced, and as the magnets 16 of the figures l4 cooperate with the actuator-carried magnets to move said figures along the track area [0, the innermost of the figures will cross the finish line ahead of the others, as seen in Fig. 1. If the board I be tilted in the opposite direction, the balls 32, 32a and 23111) maybe made toenter the notches 30, 30a. apdgtflb respectively, as seen in Fig. 5. With this relation of the balls, the actuatorcarried magnets will have such a positional relation that the outermost of the figures M will lead. If the board be properly tilted in a third direction, all of the balls will abutrthe rear walls 3|, 3la and 3H) of the grooves and will push the actuator-carried magnets in such positional relation that the central figure will lead the others.

To insure that the magnets it of the figures 14 shall be properly under the control of the actuator-carried magnets, the latter are preferabiy larger or stronger than the former. Normally, the figures will remain in a predetermined laterallyspac ed relation-with each other as they are heing'moved along the track area ill, but i the actuator 11 be given such a quick jerk that the figures l4-will n ot immediately follow it, said figures will be freed. When this occurs, the magnets 4-6 of said figures will cause them to move into a different relation with each other, for instance, into a huddle. In order that this rather amusing movement of the figures shall be possithat the magnets 16 oi any ble, it necessary two'adjacent figures Id be within magnetic range of each other under normal circumstances, and tl eyare held in this relation with each other, due to the spacing of the magnets 2], 21a and 21b. After the actuator I! has been given a quick jerk as above described to permit the magnets 16 to attract each other to move the figures into a huddle, the latter may *be' restored to their normal laterally spaced positions, that is, arran ed in a row transversely of the track by movmg the actuator back under them. That actuation of the figures, will of course be due to the ,fact that the magnetic flux of nagnets 21, 21a and i lb is greater than the magnetic flux of magnets l6.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made 'ior carrying out the objects of the invention, and

while preferences have been disclosed, attention is invited to the possibility of making variations :within the scope "of the invention as claimed,

fl; claimi l. A racing toy comprising a board having a track surface, separate figures resting on and movable along said track surface and having individual armatures, an actuator mounted under a d oa i ovem nd r s id track su face, magnets slidably mounted on said actuator f r forward and rearward shifting'into different positional relations with each other, said magnets being cooperable with said armatures respectively to advance sa d figures along said track suriace when said actuator is advanced, and

ans for holdin said magnets in any selected one of said pos tional relations to cause any selected one of said figures to lead. 1

' 2. A racing toy comprising a board having a track surface, separate figures resting on and movable along said track surface and having individual armatures, an actuator mounted'under saidboard for movement under said track sur- 3. A racing toy comprising a board having a track surface, separate figures resting on and movable along said track surface and having individual armatures, magnets under said board for. cooperation with said anmatures to move said figures along said track surface, an actuator undersaidboard .and movable under said track surface .in .the direction of the length of the track,

the upper side of said actuator being provided with grooves extending in the direction of .the length of the track-and slidably receiving said magnets respectively, whereby said magnets may shift forw ardly and rearwardly into different positional relations with each other, and a ball confined in each of said grooves behind the magnet therein for pushing this magnet forwardly when saidactuator is moved forwardly, one longitudi- -nal edge wall of each of said grooves having a notch, said notches being adapted to receive said balls when said board'is tilted in one direction and being located to cause said balls to push said magnets in one of said positional relations .to cause one of said-figures to lead.

A racing toy comprising a board having a tracksurface; separate figures resting on and movable along said' track surface and having individual armatures, magnets under said board for cooperation with said armatures tomove said figures along said track surface, an actuator .under said board and movable under said track surface in the'direction of the length of the track, the upper side of said actuator being provided with grooves extending in the di rection of the length of the track and slidably' receiving said magnets respectivelnwhereby said magnets may shift forwardly and rearwardly into different positional relations with each other, and a ball confined ineach of said grooves behind the magnet therein for pushing this magnet forwardly when said actuator, is moved forwardly, one longitudinal edge-wallof each of said groovesh'aving' a notch, said notches being adapted to receive said balls'when said board is tilted in one direction and being, located to cause said balls to push said magnets in one of said positional relations to cause one of said figures to lead, the other longitudinal edge wall of each groove having a ballreceiving notch," these notches being adapted to receive said balls when 'said'lboard is tilted in another direction and being located to cause said balls to push said magnets in another of said positional relations to cause another of said figures to lead.

- 5. A racing toy comprising aboard having a track surface, separate figures resting on and movable along said tracksurface and having individual armatures, magnets under said board for cooperation with said armatures to move said figures along said track surface, an actuator under said board and movable under said track, surface in the direction of the length of the track, the upper side of said actuator being provided with grooves extending in the direction of the length of the track and slidably receivingsaid magnets respectively, wherebysai'd-magnets may shift forwardly and rearwardly into different positional relations with each other, and a ball confined in each of said grooves behind the magnet therein for pushing this magnet forwardly when said actuator is moved forwardly, one longitudinal edge wall of each of said grooves having a notch, said notches being adapted to receive said balls when said board is tilted in one direction and being located to cause said balls to push said magnets in one of said positional relations to cause one of said figures to lead, the rear ends of said grooves being located to abut said balls and cause the latter to push said magnets in another of said positional relations when said board is tilted in another direction, thereby causing another of said figures to lead.

6. A racing toy comprising a board having a track surface, separate figures resting on and movable along said track surface and having individual armatures, magnets under said board for cooperation with said armatures to move said figures along said track surface, an actuator under said board and movable under said track surface in the direction of the length of the track, the upper side of said actuator being provided with grooves extending in the direction of the length of the track and slidably receiving said magnets respectively, whereby said magnets may shift forwardly and rearwardly into different positional relations with each other, and a ball confined in each of said grooves behind the magnet therein for pushing this magnet forwardly when said actuator is moved forwardly, one longitudinal edge wall of each of said grooves having a notch, said notches being adapted to receive said balls when said board is tilted in one direction and being located to cause said balls to push said magnets in one of said positional relations to cause one of said figures to lead, the other longitudinal edge wall of each groove having a ball-receiving notch, these notches being adapted to receive said balls when said board is tilted in another direction and being located to cause said balls to push said magnets in another of said positional relations to cause another of said figures to lead, the rear ends of said grooves being located to abut said balls and cause the latter to push said magnets in another of said positional relations when said board is tilted in another direction, thereby causing another of said figures to lead.

7, A racing toy comprising a board to be held in one hand of the user and having an arcuate track surface, separate figures slidably supported on said track surface and movable lengthwise of the track, each of said figures having an individual armature, a movable arm under said board to be actuated by the other hand of the user, means pivoting said arm to said board for swinging movement lengthwise of said arcuate track surface, the portion of said arm extending transversely of said arcuate track surface being provided with parallel guides extending in the direction of the length of the track, and sep-- arate magnets in said guides and slidable lengthwise thereof, said magnets coasting with said armatures to move said figures along said track surface.

8. A toy comprising a board having a track surface, separate figures slidable upon the track of said board and carrying individual permanent magnets, an actuator mounted under said board for movement lengthwise of said track, said actuator having a portion extending transversely of said track, and a row of permanent magnets carried by the transverse portion of said actuator and equal in number to said figure-carried magnets, said actuator-carried magnets having a greater magnetic flux than said figure-carried magnets and cooperable therewith to hold said figures in laterally spaced relation transversely of said track and to move them along the same when said actuator is moved lengthwise of said track, said actuator-carried magnets being sufficiently close to each other to keep the magnets of any two adjacent figures within magnetic range of each other, whereby if said actuator be quickly jerked, its magnets will free the magnets of said figures and the latter magnets will cause said figures to relatively move into different relation to each other.

9. A racing toy comprising a board to be held in one hand of the user and having a track surface, separate figures slidable on said track surface and having individual permanent magnets, a movable actuator under said board and extending transversely of said track surface to be moved by the other hand of the user, means mounting said actuator on said board for movement lengthwise of the track, a plurality of elongated parallel guides on said actuator extending in the direction of the length of the track and equal in number to the number of said figures, additional permanent magnets slidable in said guides and cooperable with the magnets of said figures to hold the latter in spaced relation and move them upon said track surface when the actuator is moved lengthwise of the track, said actuatorcarried magnets having a greater magnetic flux that said figure-carried magnets and being sufficiently close to each other to keep the magnets of any two adjacent figures within magnetic ran e of each other, whereby if said actuator be quickly jerked, its magnets will free the magnets of said figures and the latter magnets will cause said figures to relatively move into a different relation with each other.

JOHN J. CUNNINGHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

